Fettering Shadows: A Jake Dalton Investigation

by Amy Shannon

  Jake focused back on the crime scene sketches and then up at his map. He taped the crime scene sketches above each of the red pins. What else is relevant? He focused on the buildings where the alleys were. Boarded up Clarksville clinic. A doctor’s office. The Clarksville community center. A house that was empty and for sale. A dentist office. His own backyard, not empty and not in an alley, but near his own agency. All had locations with a direct path to the route 55 highway.

  What else? He confirmed in his head what he was looking at. Alleys, except his own home. Businesses? Not all were businesses. Two empty buildings. Not all were empty. He looked at the address of the empty house and walked over to his laptop. He typed in the address in the search engine, and stood back. The house was for sale, but the previous owner was a pediatrician. The home used to be a doctor’s office, but was converted back to the house for the sale.

  All were medical related, except for his home. His home was different. The torso was male. The location wasn’t the alley behind his house, it was in his yard. The location wasn’t outside his business, it was in his yard. His business was not medical related. Goddammit! He looked at the sketch that was of his backyard, when Abrams was left in his yard. He scanned the sketch for the evidence markers, and then hurried out of the office.

  Ralph continued to focus on his search for the fliers.

  Jake rushed into his yard and stared at the trash bin that was at the edge of his yard, near the fence. Next to it was the recycling bin for his home. It was similar to the one he had for the agency, but it was a larger box. The box had three compartments within it, one for plastic, one for paper, and one for cans. He looked inside his bin for paper, and noticed a purple flier. He pulled out his pen from his pocket, and carefully lifted the paper on the fold. Some need to be warned more than others. It’s not what’s in your head, it’s what comes out of the head that matters. Lobotomies give compliancy. Compliancy meets destiny faster. Ten Forty-three Addison Boulevard. Jones Psychiatric Clinic. Open 24 hours.

  He grabbed his handkerchief out of his back pocket and held on to the flier. He headed back to the agency. “Brennan? Find anything?”

  “Twenty different fliers, all purple, and the ink looks the same,” he sighed. “Same address, different promotional words, though.”

  “Put them in an envelope,” he said. “And then put it on my desk. Then you can finish the background checks on the victims.”

  “Yes, sir,” he did as instructed, and then left to the storage room.

  Jake put the flier he found inside the envelope and then put it in his desk drawer. He walked into the storage room, “Brennan?”

  Ralph looked up from the computer in the corner of the room. “Sir?”

  “On the fliers, can you tell if they were done by a home printer or one from a print shop or somethin’?”

  “I can see if the print is the same, sometimes, there are distinct marks on home printers. If it’s from a print shop, they usually leave a watermark. Want me to check them for you?”

  “Uh huh, I’m sorry. I’ve got ideas and leads running wild right now, and I need your help. I appreciate your help, ya know.”

  “Thank you, sir. Uh, sir, is this guy gonna hurt you or Dr. Constantine?”

  “Nope, won’t let him. I won’t let him come near you either,” Jake put his hand on Ralph’s shoulder.

  “You think I’m in danger?”

  “I’d say no, but he did hurt Ted Abrams. I didn’t even know him but I know his brother. He’s the one they found in my yard. Just pay attention wherever you go. I’ll be on this guy tonight and I won’t let up ‘til I catch him. I just can’t be in two places at once, so I’ll need you here. I mean, during the day.”

  “Sir, if you need someone here while you’re out, I could do that. I could be here.”

  “You don’t need to do that.”

  “What if you need somethin’ checked out or you needed somethin’ brought to you. I’m sorry. I just wanna help you wherever I can. I could stay on the cot here,” he pointed to the rollaway bed placed in the corner. “If you need me, you can call or text me, and I’ll do what you need. If not, I’ll be here and not at home. I’ll work back here, so there won’t be any lights on in the front of the building. No one will even know I’m here.”

  “Well, if that’s what you want, just keep track of your time, as usual. I’ll pay overtime for your overnight hours, even if you’re just here.”

  “Thank you, sir,” he said. “Oh, the other night, I did fix the security cameras. I’ve got the back one facing toward your home, and the two on the front door. Do we need to have another set up?”

  “One in the office, toward the reception area, I mean doorway. Just in case,” he sighed.

  “I’ll do that. Is it OK if I leave for supper? Then I’ll come back and set up everything I need in here.”

  “No problem. Bring food back for the overnight, if you need it. Brennan, you sure you wanna do this?”

  “I wanna help. I can do this. I swear. Sir, you can trust me.”

  “I already know that,” Jake smiled. “Thanks, Brennan,” he walked out to the map on the wall, and continued to review the sketches and write down his notes.

  A few hours later, he walked into the storage room. “I’m heading out, now, Brennan. Do what you need to, and I’ll be available via text. If you find the connection between the victims, let me know right away.”

  “I will, sir,” he said, looking up from the computer. “I’m running the last victim now, and then I’ll compare all the files. I did discover that the purple paper was bought in a case from the office supply store in Lorentown. It was special order because it was purple. The printer is a home printer. There is a distinguishing mark whenever it prints the letter a. It’s offset from the other letters, and it’s an old inkjet printer, not laser.”

  “Good to know. I’ll haveta check Robinson’s financials to see if that stuff was ordered by him.”

  “The paper was purchased via purchase order, Jones psychiatric clinic. That doesn’t really exist, does it?”

  “I’ll have Dina check it out. You do what you need to on those comparisons. Those may be the key to finding his next victim before he finds her.” Jake walked into the office, grabbing his go-bag, cell phone, his jacket, and his Stetson.

  He walked out to his truck and got in the driver’s side. He flipped open his cell phone.

  Jake: need $ on Arlo G. Robinson.

  Dina: unsub?

  Jake: I reckon so. Waiting on proof.

  Dina: b careful cowboy

  Jake: Always.

  Dina: Brennan working out?

  Jake: Yes. I can trust him, right?

  Dina: Definitely. Good kid.

  Jake: Thx. I’ve a plan for unsub.

  Dina: Keep in touch. Back up if needed.

  Jake: I know. Thx.

  Jake pulled out of the driveway and drove down to the diner, to pick up supper for him and Aggie.

  Jake pulled into Aggie’s driveway, and looked at his cell phone on the seat next to him. Goddammit! He opened the phone and pulled up Dina’s contact information.

  Jake: Need 1 more favor.

  Dina: Anything. Name it.

  Jake: cell phones of victims. Can they be tracked or their records sent to me?

  Dina: I’ll work on it.

  Jake: Thx. Oh, the CSU tech may need more resources.

  Dina: I’ll do what I can. We’re all watching this case. Will do what I can to help.

  Jake: Todd Masters. He’s CSU tech. Overworked.

  Dina: On it. B careful, cowboy.

  Jake flipped the phone closed, and put it in his pocket. He grabbed his go-bag, and the three bags of food from the diner. He got out of the truck and headed toward Aggie’s door. She opened the door, and smiled. “We’re being watched,” she muttered, tightlipped.

  “I saw,” Jake kissed her cheek. “Supper?”

  “Definitely,” she grabbed two of the bags and he followed her into the h
ouse. The sound of Sinatra’s voice crooning in the background lingered throughout the house.

  23

  Jake helped Aggie clear the table and load the dishwasher. She poured them both a cup of coffee. “I’d add whiskey, but you’re working all night, right?” she smiled, handing him a cup.

  He followed her into the living room, eyeing the video camera that was positioned toward outside the window. He hadn’t yet had the chance to review all her video tapes, recording Robinson watching her home, but he would have evidence if he did something more than just watch her home.

  “Please, sit,” she patted the seat next to her.

  He sat down next to her. “Sorry, I was waiting for you to sit.”

  “So,” she smiled. “Why don’t we try to focus on somethin’ other than the case or stalking or anything that has to do with work?”

  “Sounds good,” he leaned back. “Uh, so, tell me about your family.”

  “My family?” she smiled.

  “Uh huh, you mentioned you had a sister in New Orleans,” he smiled, as he sipped his coffee.

  “Judith. She owns a restaurant on Bourbon Street. Her and her husband. Well, he’s in the Navy, so she runs it on her own, when he’s been deployed.”

  “Is she your only sister?”

  She put her hand on his knee. “Are you askin’ me so you don’t haveta read my background check, or because you wanna know?”

  “Because I’m curious. You’re welcome to ask me anything,” he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

  She touched his cheek, and brought her lips to his, kissing him softly. “I wanna get to know you, too,” she smiled. “I like what I see.”

  “And what’s that?” he fingered his scar. “An old man?”

  “Definitely not,” she grinned. “I see someone who knows how to take care of himself, and who cares about others. I see how you are with your assistant, and that you made a new life for yourself. I’m sorry that you were hurt by your ex.”

  “More like betrayed, but that’s another discussion. So, do you have other siblings?”

  “Oh, well, OK, if you really wanna know,” she lightly licked her lips. “Both of my parents are dead. I had an older brother, Mark, but he died when he was 19. A drunk-driver hit his car and killed him instantly. My parents were never the same after that, and years later, out of some kind of irony or just horrifying fate, my parents were driving home, from visiting my brother’s grave, and their car was hit by a drunk driver. My father survived the accident, but died in the hospital a week later. My mother died on impact. I reckon it affected both Judith and me. Judith’s restaurant does not serve alcohol. You’d think it would affect sales or whatever, since it’s in the middle of New Orleans, but it doesn’t. They have four small children,” she leaned back and sipped her coffee. “So, you told me about your parents, but do you have other relatives or close friends?”

  “Sully, he’s my former partner in the Rangers. I’ve got some contacts in the bureau, such as Dina Jennings. She and I actually met at some training in Quantico. The Feds were doing some profiling training of police officers, and I jumped at the chance. We became good friends, and she always told me if I needed help with anything, to let me know. So, sometimes she does things for me, and I do have some federal credentials. I could’ve been an agent, but I didn’t want that. I’m not one for stiff suits.”

  “I could see you in a suit, and you’d look good, but I doubt you’d be comfortable.”

  “I only wear suits to weddings and funerals, and I don’t go to many of either. Unless it’s a formal Marine funeral, then I wear my dress uniform.”

  “I can’t really picture you in the dress uniform, but I’d love to see it sometime. So, you have a friend in the FBI? Interesting. I didn’t know you had credentials, too. You keep that to yourself?”

  “I don’t tell too many. Sully doesn’t even know. Sometimes, they use information from me, and sometimes they help me with cases. They do the detailed background checks that I don’t always have time for.”

  “Like mine?”

  “Uh huh, but I said and I meant it, I didn’t look at it. I’d rather you tell me what I need to know or what you want me to know. I did have them do a thorough one on Brennan. I need to know I can trust him, especially with everything that I’m working on. Oh, sorry, we said we wouldn’t discuss work.”

  “That’s all right. Tell me about being a Marine. You said you were deployed?”

  “Desert Storm,” he sighed. “I served two tours. I still have friends from the service, and some of them, teach, some are in law enforcement, some still serve, and others have found time to write books.”

  “Oh, the guy that Nels knows, right?”

  “Uh huh, I like his work, and I read many of his books repeatedly. I also have my favorite books, like Paradise Lost.”

  “I usually read medical books or journals, but sometimes, I like to read crime books. To relax, I sometimes read Shakespeare. It gives me a sense of peace even though it’s filled with tragedy and death.”

  “Hmm, I could never get past the where fort art thou language,” he laughed, as his watch chimed. He looked at his watch. “It’s ten o’clock.”

  “But he’s been watching us for hours, right? Do you reckon he’ll stay on schedule?”

  “One way to find out. I’m going out to the front porch to smoke, and then I’ll see what he does. If he leaves, I’ll head to his home and beat him there. I already know the path he takes. If he stays, then we’ll see what he does next. I won’t keep my eyes off him,” he stood up.

  She stood up. “Be careful, Jake.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Always. Make sure everything is locked up, and keep all your lights on, as we said. Text or call me if you need me. My phone is in my pocket and on vibrate, but I’ll answer as soon as I can. If I don’t answer within an hour, call the police. The sheriffs.”

  “I will. I promise,” she watched as he put on his jacket, and his Stetson. He draped his go-bag over his shoulder and he walked out of the house. He stood on the porch and pulled a cigar out of his shirt pocket. He lit it as it dangled off his lip. His eyes flicked across the street, where Robinson was still standing, but this time, he moved within the shadow, hoping to not be seen, but Jake knew he was there. Jake finished smoking his cigar and noticed that Robinson had not moved from the shadow. He headed to his truck, and kept his eyes on the rearview mirror, as the shadow moved slightly. He turned on the truck, and then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

  Jake: watching suspect. Check out the boarded up clinic.

  Sully: Is that all?

  Jake: check out all dumpsites but start with the clinic.

  Sully: Where r u?

  Jake: on the hunt.

  Jake backed out of the driveway, not turning his head, but noticing the shadow still in the bushes. He pulled down the street and turned the corner. He pulled over to the side of the road, and then walked back to the corner with his camera. He used the zoom feature and kept his eyes on the shadow who stepped out onto the sidewalk, still focused on Aggie’s house. Then, finally, after hours of the shadow watching the house, Robinson turned and walked back into the brush that led down the long path to his home.

  Jake got back in his truck, and using the closest roads to the path along the Herzog creek, he headed toward Robinson’s road.

  24

  Jake slowly drove his truck, keeping back behind Robinson’s trail. He slowed when Robinson came to the footbridge, and he waited until he was across it, until he drove across the vehicle bridge. He watched as Robinson was right on schedule and headed to his home. Jake drove and watched as Robinson headed up the front stairs of his home, and entered it. The lights downstairs soon turned on.

  Jake parked the truck, and kept his eyes and camera focused. He wasn’t about to leave here tonight, unless Robinson did. He waited for another hour, keeping eyes on the house, watching lights go off in one room, and on in another. At one point, the light in the basement came
on, but only for a few moments, and then it went off again. When all the lights downstairs went off, a few minutes later, the upstairs light came on. It lit up the front window of the upstairs room. Then, it went off.

  Jake waited another twenty minutes, watching the dark house, to see if there would be any more movement. He got out of his truck, putting his keys in his jeans pocket, and cell phone in his back pocket. He patted his holster, confirming the Glock in its place, and then reached in his bag, pulling out his small LED flashlight. He closed the door of the truck, and quietly walked across the street, still down the road from Robinson’s home. He walked in the shadows of the trees that overhung the sidewalk, heading toward the driveway of Robinson’s home.

  He walked down the driveway that ran alongside the house. The driveway ended in front of a small one car-garage. He eyed the empty, barren yard that was covered in dirt, and not the normal green grass. Shovels were sporadically placed dug in the dirt around the yard. Jake turned toward the house and examined the back of it, where the basement door led out to the driveway. On the back porch, dead plants hung from hanging baskets, and the back door was covered in gray duct tape. He turned back toward the garage, and walked around it, looking for a door that didn’t lift up.

  On the far side of the garage, he found a window, and not a door, so he used his flashlight and peered inside the garage. Inside, he could see an old car, lifted up on cinderblocks where the tires were supposed to be, the hood was opened and so was the door to the trunk. Jake knew the car was a 1976 AMC Pacer. He shined his light all around the garage, and noticed something under the car, but he couldn’t make out what it was.